Russia sharing terrorist intelligence with US

A senior member of the Russian government today said his country had supplied the US with intelligence in an attempt to find those responsible for this week’s terrorist attacks.

Sergei Kirienko told a press conference at the Russian embassy that his government had had ‘‘a frank exchange of information’’ with the US

He reiterated Russia’s support for the US, which he said was ‘‘a matter of principle’’.

The deaths in New York and Washington had shown that the two countries and the western world should bury their differences.

Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Kirienko said: ‘‘All the sore points we have had in the past, the expansion of Nato, the anti-rocket initiative has paled into insignificance after what has happened.

‘‘We are now on the same side.’’

But he cautioned that the US must act justly and responsibly in any retribution towards those responsible.

‘‘Before we have a retaliatory blow you have to prove to yourself and to the rest of the world that the party you are fighting is the culprit. It’s important to remember that.’’

Mr Kirienko, 39, has been in London in his capacity as head of the Russian Federation State Committee for Chemical Demilitarisation.

He told the press conference that this morning he met Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence officials to agree in principle a £12m aid package from the UK to help the Russians dispose of their vast arsenal of chemical weapons.

Mr Kirienko said the deal should be signed in Moscow when MoD officials visit at a later date.